Runner for stoops



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

A. `L. ROSS. 'RUNNER POB. sToos.

No. 565,301. Patented Aug/1,1896.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(NO Model.)

A. L. Ross. RUNNERFOR STOOPS.

Patented Aug. 4, 1896.

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AROHIA L. ROSS, OF NET YORK, N. Y.

RUNNER FOR STOOPS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 565,301, dated August 4, 1896.

Application led March 31, 1896.

To all whom, it may concern.'

Be it known that I, AEcHrA L. Ross, of New York city, in the county and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Runner for Stoops and Sidewalks, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved covering or runnerfor stoops and sidewalks of private houses, theaters, and other buildings, to permit persons to readily ascend and descend the steps without danger of slipping and falling in icy weather, the device being very simple and durable in construction, neat in appearance, and readily applied or removed and folded up for storing in a comparatively small space.

The invention consists principally of a series of mats fiexibly connected withy each other, each mat being adapted to hook with its rear end upon hooks permanently secured on the steps of the building.

The invention also consists of certain parts and details and combinations of the same, as will be fully described hereinafter, and then pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improvement as applied, with the stoop and part of the house in section. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the improvement as applied and with parts broken out. Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the gutter end of the runner. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a locking device for the mat as applied and with parts broken out, and Fig. 6 is a sectional side elevation of the improvement as applied.

The improved covering or runner for the stoop and sidewalk consists of a series of mats A, made of rubber or like material and preferably iiuted longitudinally, as indicated in Fig. 1, to permit a person to get a secure foothold on the mat when stepping thereon. Each mat A is bound at its ends by lateral top and bottom strips Band O, connected with each other by suitable rivets passing through the mat, the inner ends of the bottom strip C being rigidly connected with each other by a longitudinal strip O, formed with openings C2 at the junction of the strip O' with the vertically-extending ange O3, integral with the strip O. The openings O2 are adapted to engage hooks D, fastened to the under side of the steps E of the stoop, said hooks being made of thin metal driven in the joint between the adjacent steps, to permit of fastening the rear end of the hook to the under side of the top step, as plainly indicated in Fig. 1. Thus the hooks D are permanent on the steps E, and in applying the mats the strips O are simply hooked upon the hooks D to prevent lateral and longitudinal movement ofthe mats ou the steps.

The front ends `of the top strips B of one mat are flexibly connected, preferably by chains F, with the flange Cs of the next mat below, so that when the runner is not in use the several mats can be readily folded one on the top of the other to be stored away in a comparatively small space. The outer ends of the strip O of the lowermost mat A are preferably curved to form spring-hooks O4, adapted to engage the front end of the tread E of the lowermost step E, as indicated in Fig. l.

As shown in Fig. 2, the several mats are placed near one of the railings of the stoop, with the upper mat at the door-step, somewhat at one side, to permit a person to conveniently reach the door. In this case only a single chain F is employed for connecting the top mat with the next following one, and the free end of the outermost strip C is formed with a hook similar to the hook O4 on the lowermost mat.

The mats for the sidewalk E2 are connected with each other by chains F, as described above in reference to the mats on the stoop; but only the mat near the first step is formed with a strip C for engagement with a hook D, fastened to the edge of the flagstone next to the step, as indicated in Fig. 1.

The outermost mat A-that is, the one nearest the curb-has its bottom strip O formed with notched downwardly-bent flanges O5, adapted to engage pins G, projecting from the edge of the flagging, said flanges C5 being connected with each other by a rod C6, which permits of swinging the flanges C5 upon the IOO pins G, so as to securely hold the runner in place.

If desired, a suitable locking device may be employed for securely holding each mat firmly down on the top of the step; but ordinarily such device is not necessary.

As shown in Fig. 5, the locking device consists of tw'o bolts H, fitted to slide in suitable bearings on the strip C and adapted to move in front of the hooks D to clamp the latter between the bolts and the flange C3. The inner or adjacent ends of the bolts are formed with vertical finger-pieces, pressed apart by a spring I, said finger-pieces being adapted to be taken hold of by the operator to move the bolts H toward each other and bring the same out of engagement with the hooks D.

Now it will be seen that by the arrangement described the runner may be readily put in place on the stoop or the sidewalk or removed therefrom whenever desired, it being understood that said runner permits a person to readily ascend or descend the steps without danger'of falling or slipping in wintry or icy weather.

Having thus fully described my invention, l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A covering or runner for stoops and sidewalks comprising a series of mats iieXibly connected with each other each mat being provided at the rear with a strip having an upturned fiange and formed with openings, and hooks permanently secured to the steps and adapted to be engaged by the said openings, substantially as described.

2. A covering or runner for stoops and sidewalks, comprising a series of mats, each provided at the rear with a strip formed with openings and having an upturned flange, chains for connecting the mats with each other, hooks permanently secured to the steps and adapted to be engaged by the said openings, and locking devices for fastening the said mats to said hooks, substantially as set forth. y

3. A runner for stoops and sidewalks, comprising a series of mats, lateral top and bottom strips connected with each other and to the edge of the mat, near the side thereof, the bottom strips being connected with each other at their rear by a longitudinal strip having an upturned liange and formed with openings, and hooks permanently secured to the step and adapted Vto be engaged by said openings, substantially as shown and described.

Il. A runner for stoops and sidewalks, comprising a series of mats, lateral top and bottom strips connected with each other and to the edge of the mat, near the side thereof, the bottom strips being connectedwith each other at their rear by a longitudinal strip having an upturned flange and formed with openings, hooks permanently secured to the step and adapted to be engaged by said openings, and chains for connecting the front ends of the top strips with the upturned flange of the longitudinal strip for the next mat, substantially as shown and described.

5. Arunner for stoops and sidewalks, comprising a series of mats, lateral top and bottom strips connected with each other and to the edge of the mat, near the side thereof, the bottom strips being connected with each other at their rear by a longitudinal strip having an upturned flange and formed with openings, and hooks permanently secured to the step and adapted to be engaged by said openings, some of the mats having their lateral bottom strips formed into hooks, substantially as shown and described.

6. A runner for sidewalks, comprising a series of mats having lateral top and bottom strips riveted together on the mat, chains for connecting the strips of one mat with those of the next following mat, hooks engaged by the mat next to the step, and pins fixed in the sidewalk and adapted to be engaged by depending notched flanges on the bottom strips of the outermost mat, substantially as' shown and described.

ARCI-IIA L. ROSS.

Witnesses:

THEO. G. Hosrnn, JAMES M. HENLEY. 

